Tag Archives: Druze

Cautionary Tales of Disarmament

There are two groups of people right now that are being pushed to disarm. First we might look at the PKK in Turkey. The PKK are Kurds who have the misfortune to live in the Islamic country of Turkey, and for some unfathomable reason Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952. The history of Turkey’s treatment of the Kurds in their country is quite remarkable. Horrible, but remarkable.

Human rights of Kurdish people in Turkey

Notables include tens of thousands of Kurds murdered by Turkery, and as in Eastern Ukraine which banned the use of Russian language, dress, customs and holidays for the ethnically Russian population of Ukraine, Turkey banned

The use of Kurdish language, dress, folklore, and names were banned, and the Kurdish-inhabited areas remained under martial law until 1946. In an attempt to deny an existence of a Kurdish ethnicity, the Turkish government categorized Kurds as “Mountain Turks” until the 1980s. The words “Kurds”, “Kurdistan”, and “Kurdish” were officially banned by the Turkish government.Following the military coup of 1980, the Kurdish language was officially prohibited in public and private life. Many people who spoke, published, or sang in Kurdish were arrested and imprisoned.

Another Dark Year for Kurds in Turkey Under the Current Leadership

On March 20, the United States Department of State (DOS) released its annual 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices. Turkey’s section shed light on the numerous violations of the Turkish government against various minority groups, the lion’s share of which targeted Kurds. A non-exhaustive list of the Turkish government’s atrocities against the Kurdish population includes military operations against civilians, restrictions on freedom of speech, jailing politicians, attacks on the press, and forced displacement of civilian populations.

This has been going on a long time. But now the PKK has decided to disarm. Actually Erdogan is in a bit of a pickle. His popularity seems to have dipped enough he’s followed places like Ukraine and certain states in the U.S. who attempt to prevent elections due to ________ or imprison, kick off the ballot or kill their political opponent as some states in the U.S. did.

Kurdish militants say they’ll disarm in favor of politics. Will Turkey respond?

On the Turkish side, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the PKK decision was “historic” and “opened another critical chapter on our path toward a terror-free Turkey.” The PKK is designated a terror group by Turkey, the United States, and European Union.

Yet Turkey’s long-standing leader also has his own domestic reasons for embracing the end of insurgency, as he looks for legal ways to secure a third term in 2028, says Ms. Aydıntaşbaş.

While [Erdoğan] looks very powerful, he also can sense that there’s a significant drop in his popularity,” she says. “His secular rivals like the mayor of Istanbul – who he imprisoned – are gaining ground. He still has to win elections and push through constitutional changes to extend his reign. All that requires Kurdish support.”

So the deal is, Erdogen wants more power, he thinks he needs the Kurds to achieve that. Supposedly with the PKK laying down their weapons they will now begin to try to achieve their goals through diplomatic and political paths. But since the Erdogan regime isn’t being real forthcoming about some of these plans, the Kurds quite correctly have some trepidation about the disarmed future. But they did it, they had a big old disarmament ceremony.

Let me see, Turkey has controlled and abused them for 40 years, and now that they’re disarmed and they’re defenseless things are going to get better under the Islamic dictator Erdogan? If they treat you like that when your armed, how exactly do you think long term this will turn out when you’re defenseless?

Next we move on to Syria.

The Curious Case of Mouaz Moustafa

December 2024 marked a stunning turning point in Syria’s bloody civil war. After poison gas attacks, mass killings, rape, torture, and abductions left millions displaced and hundreds of thousands dead—and turned Syria into a veritable wasteland in desperate need of foreign aid and investment—the regime led by Bashar al-Assad finally collapsed.

In its place rose a new government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization once affiliated with al-Qaeda. While many cheered al-Sharaa’s ascendancy, others worried that his jihadist history would put religious minorities, especially Syria’s Alawite population—which served as the base of support for the Assad regime—at risk.

And about 15 minutes later those worries were born out. There is a lot of documentation on this.

UN-Defended, from TZP, but there are others as well.

2025 massacres of Syrian Alawites

Syrian forces massacred 1,500 Alawites. The chain of command led to Damascus.

The abominable massacre of Christians and Alawites in Syria and the urgent need for an immediate and decisive EU response

Syria’s Transitional Honeymoon Is Over After Massacres and Disinformation

In Syria, Sunni Muslim militias are killing Alawites and Christians

EU disinformation on the murders of Christians and Alawites in Syria

Streets piled with bodies: Syrians report massacres of Alawite and Christian civilians’. The facts are devastating: reports point to a wave of killings in Syria targeting Alawites and Christians, including ten women and five children. On 10 March 2025, BFMTV reported that 745 civilians, mainly Alawites, had been massacred in the Latakia region between 6 and 8 March 2025 by Syrian regime forces and their allies.

However, in a statement of 8 March 2025, ‘diplomats’ from the European External Action Service (EEAS) completely ignored these ongoing massacres, attributing the attacks to ‘pro-Assad elements’. This is blatant disinformation that damages the EU’s reputation.

1. Can the Commission verify the EEAS statement that the recent attacks on civilians, including Christians and Alawites, are being carried out by ‘pro-Assad elements’ alone, or does it acknowledge that the new regime is involved in the massacres of civilians?

2. Has the Commission urged the interim Syrian Government to put an end to the massacres by government forces or Islamist factions of children, women, civilians and prisoners from the Alawite and Christian communities?

3. How much financial assistance has the new Syrian Government received from the EU since December 2024?

The HTS terrorist Al Julani who by now had received his CNN makeover ala Zelensky, said he would rein in his HTS terrorists. Luckily Biden’s auto pen had taken him off the terrorist watch list and removed the 10 million bounty on Al Julani’s head. Because nobody loves a terrorist like the demoncrat party these days.

Biden Admin Drops $10M Bounty for Terrorist Who Took Over SyriaThe Jihadists are our friends now.

But Al Julani said he would get a handle on these atrocities. Syria leader vows to hunt down those responsible for bloodshed. Then of course he did(nt).

But to be fair, Repubs love them some terrorists too. Although I’m willing to chalk this up to trying to curry favor with some other muslim countries that were pushing him to give the terrorist Al Julani a break. Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria to Support ‘Path to Stability and Peace’

But the point with all that is the world and the UN were well aware of the slaughter of Alawites and Christians taking place in Syria and their rapid response was????? Nothing. The only country that helped them at all was Russia. The sheltered some at a military base. Those that could make it there anyway. The world and the U.N. had absolutely no interest in the slaughter of Alawites and Christians by Islamic terrorists. At least not enough to do anything.

More than 1,000 killed in Syrian crackdown on Alawite region, war monitor says

Several hundred, mostly women and children and elders, sought refuge at a Russian Mediterranean military base at Hmeimim in Latakia, according to footage from the scene and two people familiar with the matter.

Which brings me to my next point Alawites and Christians Slaughtered: Syrian Massacre Death Toll Reaches 7,000

At the same time, another Greek MEP, Emmanouil Fragkos, filed a request to the European Public Prosector’s Office for a European Arrest Warrant on Syria’s so-called president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group for Crimes Against Humanity, saying that the killings were “with the intent to reduce the population that does not express political support for the Al-Qaeda faction that has taken power in Syria.”

The killings have been so brutal and shocking that the Alawite leaders, once under the protection of Iran, the Assad regime, and Hezbollah, appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Save us from the brutal regime, we will welcome you with songs and flowers.” This appeal would have been unimaginable only last month, but the Alawites are now facing an existential threat that they now see Netanyahu as a protector after he warned the new Syrian regime that Israel would intervene if they attacked the Druze.

Well, I suppose at least the Greeks filed a strongly worded letter….but look at who the Alawites begged for help. Netanyahu and Israel. Why? Because Israel is a protector of the Druze. TZP discussed the Druze back in 2020 Shukran Druze 2020 if you want some history.

This fairly short video has some good information and history on the relationship between the Druze of Syria, Lebanon and Israel. And I believe there may be some in Jordan. The Druze are of the Abrahamic faith, and Moshe’s father in law was Druze. They have a strong tie in Israel, serving in the military and police forces. They are brave, honest and strong warriors. Perhaps you’ll remember last year a Hezbollah rocket his the town of Majdal Shams. The Druze didn’t take it kindly and basically told the Israeli government, you avenge our children, or we will. Unlike the American government, they have a firm grasp on how things work in the mid-east.

This recent attack on the Druze was started by Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes kidnapping a young Druze fruit vendor. The Druze wanted him back and set about retrieving him. Hostilities erupted. The terrorist Al Julani government sent it’s government troops.

In May the Syrian terrorist government had begun demanding the Druze turn in their weapons.

Syrian Druze refuse to disarm citing fear of sectarian attacks by state force

Probably smart on their part.

Some 100 people were killed in the fighting, including the Druze mayor of Sahnaya, who was executed by members of the government’s General Security forces after welcoming them into the town.

Syrian authorities have negotiated agreements with Druze leaders to allow their local fighters to protect their own areas as enlisted members of Syria’s security forces, known as General Security, but this week, they asked that all weapons held by residents of these areas be turned in to the state.

We told them, as soon as there is a state capable of regulating its forces, we’ll have no problem handing in our weapons,” said Makram Obeid, a member of the Jaramana committee that is negotiating with the Syrian government.

Obeid told Reuters that his committee had advised government officials it would be better for them to focus on disarming the Sunni extremists in their own forces, who are now harassing minorities.

It’s our right to be scared, because we saw what happened in other areas,” he expressed to Reuters.

So when the most recent attack against the Druze began, they were doing their best to hold off the Bedouins, and then the terrorist government sent in their “security forces”.

The massacres and humiliation began.

Bodies and looted homes: Syria’s Druze reeling after Sweida bloodshed

One elderly man had been shot in the head in his living room. Another in his bedroom. The body of a woman lay in the street. After days of bloodshed in Syria’s Druze city of Sweida, survivors emerged on Thursday to collect and bury the scores of dead found across the city.

A ceasefire overnight brought an end to ferocious fighting between Druze militia and government forces sent to the city to quell clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters.The violence worsened sharply after the arrival of government forces, according to accounts to Reuters by a dozen residents of Sweida, two reporters on the ground and a monitoring group.

Residents described friends and neighbours being shot at close range in their homes or in the streets. They said the killings were carried out by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and the insignia on them.

The National Hospital of Suwayda was attacked, every doctor, nurse and patient were murdered. The Syrian government terrorist is thanking Allah for being greater than the G-d of the Druze. The Druze do not consider themselves Muslims. If the video disappears from Twitter, I have the file.

https://x.com/joshua_landis/status/1945555281825411328

This will come as a shock to no one except perhaps President Trump and Steve Witkoff. President Trump’s opinion of Al Julani?

Young, attractive guy, tough guy, strong past, very strong past – fighter. But he’s got a real shot at pulling it together,” Trump said.

Syrian regime forces execute Druze civilians, reports say: ‘Adopted brutal tactics’

Fierce fighting continued Tuesday in Syria’s Druze-majority province of Sweida between Druze fighters and armed Bedouin militias, who are reportedly receiving backing from forces loyal to President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Despite claims by the Syrian regime that it entered the area to restore calm, eyewitnesses say regime forces are aiding the Bedouins and participating in atrocities—including the summary execution of Druze civilians.

By this time the Druze of Israel and Lebanon had just about enough of this and began to head to Syria, on foot.

Israel had made an agreement with the Druze, they made it clear to the Islamic Syrian terrorist government, leave the Druze alone when Al Julani took over.

And so Israel made good. IDF strikes Syrian military headquarters and presidential palace in Damascus

They have also struck Al Julani’s terrorist forces on their way to increase their attacks.

Israel Lauches 160 Aerial Attacks in Syria, including Against Military Headquarters in Damascus

And….the media reacted rather predictably. Now I will admit, I was pretty shocked to see this headline from The National Pulse, they used to be pretty accurate. Israel Just Started ANOTHER War. Did they write anything about the innocent Druze civilians slaughtered? Nope. Anything about everyone in a hospital shot and murdered? Nope. Anything about the agreement between Israel and the Druze? Nope. Just “Israel Just Started ANOTHER war. “ They did however mention something about Netanyahu’s bogus and heinous trial going on…Talk about crap reporting.

What about the UN? Their diapers were all a-twist when Hamass claimed Israel bombed one of their hospitals, then it turned out, nope, oopsie! It was one of Hamass’s own rockets they were trying to shoot into Israel that had malfunctioned and landed in their parking lot…So surely the UN has expressed outrage to Al Julani? Surely the U.N. will help the Druze. Nope, no UN help, no US help even though the US enabled this bloodbath. No help from Lebanon who has a Druze population, no help from Jordan who has a Druze population. No, no it was only Israel that helped them. Why did it take Israel so long to respond to the threat to the Druze community? You saw the man’s frustration in one of the videos, my guess? President Trump. I hope I’m wrong, truly I do. I would hate to think he’s so busy clearing off the place on his mantle for his “peace prize” that he will continue to sacrifice the lives of innocent civilians as he has in Iran and now Syria by demanding “ceasefires” and telling Israel to stop winning and saving innocent lives. He needs to remember, “ceasefire” in Arabic is “regroup, re-calibrate, re-arm, reload, resume”. Not yanking Israel back would have allowed innocent Iranians murdered by the vengeful Mullahs to have survived. Almost all the Jews of Iran were rounded up, I’ve heard no updates on that. I’m sure Israel would have intervened quicker in Syria.

But the lesson, and I hope the Kurds won’t find out as the Druze have, you don’t disarm. You don’t trust the government to protect you, because who is going to protect you from your government when it comes to kill you. Lesson for Mamdani voters in NYC, just sayin’. Israel is good, and they are compassionate, but if you elect a 12er Islamist to rule over you…well. Bless your hearts.

But I will end on a joyful note, these are Druze in Syria, they are at the Governor’s house I believe. Do you notice a very recent addition to the Druze flag waving on the left side? Yes, someone has added a the Star of David to the flag.

Yes, indeed it appears somewhere in the world, Israel is loved and respected for saving innocent lives, in Suwaida, in Syria.

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Shukran Druze 2020

So this is late, by more than a week late. But LIFE is intruding on my life right now, so while this column is late, it is no less sincere or grateful. The reason it’s more than a week late is that #ShukranDruze2020 is a week that is meant to coincide with Parshat Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23. Yitro (Jethro) was the father in law of Moshe. The man responsible for the organization of courts and administering justice to the new nation of Israel. Jethro of Midian is considered an ancestor of Druze, who revere him as their spiritual founder and chief prophet.

According to Wikipedia,

The Druzites form a religious minority in Israel of more than 100,000, mostly residing in the north of the country. In 2004, there were 102,000 Druze living in the country. In 2010, the population of Israeli Druze citizens grew to over 125,000. At the end of 2018, there were 143,000. Most Israeli Druze identify ethnically as Arabs. Today, thousands of Israeli Druze belong to “Druze Zionist” movements.

The Druze are Arabic speaking, their culture is their own, but they are not considered muslims and have been persecuted (like everyone else) by the muslims. They broke ranks with the mainstream muslim decisions in 1948 and followed their belief that G-d gave the land of Israel to the Jews. Since then they have served along side the Jews in the state of Israel. You can read much more about the Druze here.

In yet another stunning display of failure to carry out apartheid successfully Israeli Druze are members of Israeli society, they vote, they serve in the IDF and much more. According to the web site The Druze Veterans Association

The Druze of Israel are a tiny yet fiercely loyal minority who serve with pride and dignity and have sacrificed 505 of their brethren in the defense of Israel – with over 1,500 wounded. Out of a community of just 120,000 those are huge, unfortunate, and very telling numbers.

In 2014, when Jews were being massacred during their prayers at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood, it was an off-duty Druze police officer who ran in to stop the terrorist.

When Israel launched Operation Protective Edge in 2014 to curb terrorism from Gaza, a Druze commander led the ground battle.

In 2017, two Israeli police officers were killed while defending tourists on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Both officers were Druze.

Israel’s Presidential Military Liaison is Druze.

The commander responsible for cross-border goodwill with Gaza is Druze.

The Surgeon General of the Israel Defense Forces is Druze.

Many other senior leaders in Israel’s security and judiciary infrastructure, past and present, are Druze.

The first responder at the Har Nof Synagogue massacre was a Druze police officer, and he was attacked. More recently the two police officers murdered on the Temple Mount by pieceful falestinians were Druze. While the leadership of Israel paid condolence calls to their families and mourned their loss, crickets came from the arabs. As Michael Cohen of Druze Vets points out the Druze have a religious belief that they are not allowed to kill, or lie and have a similar ethical code. But if they have to fight, they will go first and they will go hard.

The Zelman Partisans has written about this

http://zelmanpartisans.com/?p=4371

http://zelmanpartisans.com/?p=371

http://zelmanpartisans.com/?p=5508

Shukran in Arabic means Todah, or Thank you. So what is this Shukran Druze 2020 about? It was, again sorry this is late, a week of thanking the Druze for all the do for the state and citizens of Israel. They are Arabs living peacefully in Israel, as members of the Israeli society helping keep the citizens of Israel safe. They are proof that Israel has a poor grasp of the concept of apartheid. #ShukranDruze2020 and #ApartheidFailIsrael

Shukran Druze 2020
Thank You
Todah Rabah
תודה רבה
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